Thanks xCav8r that's great, exactly the kind of thing i'm looking for.
As chance would have it i've actually come to upload a newer version of the map which is a bit further along. You can find it here-
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/christophe ... CMapV2.jpg
Basically i've fixed some of the sectors, made sure they all have names, made a start on adding gate indicators (you'll have to tell me if you still think they're too intrusive) and added background colours to denote race ownership.
It's not got any of your suggestions in yet, purely because i'd already done this before i read your post, but you have some good ideas there so i'll be incorporating some of them in shortly.
What's the deal with the star below our solar system? Is it supposed to indicate something? I understand the exaggerated size of our sun, but I don't understand the purpose of this other star.
That's a spoiler. You'll see more on the new version of the map.
What's the purpose of the lines indicating the ecliptic plane of our solar system? They extend throughout the universe map and make it busier. I think you've added this to give it the terran perspective, but the sun already does this. I'm not sure if the lines add as much as they subtract.
Do you mean the 'grid' with the sun at the center? It's because it's Styled to be along the lines of a Terran navigational chart (hence the title). Any Terran navigational chart is going to use the solar system as it's central point and any map or other chart is always going to have grid markings of some sort on it to allow the gauging of distance. I've played with it a bit and i find It looks an awful lot better with them, then without.
Alternately if you mean the lines on the solar system map, then they're marking the planets orbits
Not enough anti-aliasing for the lines. I pull the map up on another computer and like to zoom in and out. When I'm zoomed in, the lines are very pixelated.
Not to worry, they're just placeholders while i decide how to indicate the jump routes properly.
The typeface for the sectors is an improvement over your previous map, but as it is in this example, it's difficult to read. I'd prefer clarity to aesthetically appealing.
Well i hope it will be more legible when i've added a drop shadow to them, That helps make the lettering more distinct and stand out better. If it doesn't have a big enough effect then i guess i'll just have to find another font.
JPG isn't so good for zooming. Much of this is vector content. Why not PNG
Actually nothing on the map is in vector graphics. Nothing at all. It's all Raster. I don't get on very well with vector graphics. Personal preference.
Why say "system tactical information" when "system information" will do?
Because again it's being told from a Terran military perspective. Not from a traders viewpoint. To the terran military it's information abut the tactical assests the sector has.
Why include gate indicators?
That was something that was suggested as an addition when i was doing the X3 map. The positioning of the systems means an awful lot of the routes can be misleading without some indication of which two gates the route connects. THe new look gate indicators are a bit more subtle then the old so with any luck it won't make the map look so cluttered, Plus with the removal of the other icons (indicating shipyard etc) There should be more room for them now.
I like it 
